The Ospreys face an anxious wait over the fitness of their returning Wales stars ahead of Saturday’s European Champions Cup tie against Northampton Saints.

Skipper Alun Wyn Jones, flanker Justin Tipuric and half-backs Dan Biggar and Rhys Webb didn’t train with the squad at Llandarcy yesterday as they continue to recover from the demands of a gruelling autumn Test series with the national team.

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The Ospreys will wait until tomorrow before making a final call on whether they will select the Lions quartet for a match they have to win to keep their slim hopes of quarter-final qualification alive.

“There are a few of them carrying bumps and bruises from the autumn internationals and haven’t been able to take part in training,” said defence coach Brad Davis. “We will make a better assessment on Thursday.

Dan Biggar (centre) is a doubt for the Ospreys

“You have to say at the moment they are doubtful. The boys have had a tough campaign against high-class opponents. We are going to have to take it on a day-to-day scenario.

“It’s not ideal, but that is always the risk when you contribute a big group of players to the national team.

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“We are pretty much down to our bare bones at the moment; we are training with a broken squad in terms of our bodies and trying to make the best of it.”

The Ospreys go into the game at Franklin’s Gardens with just two wins all season and have suffered morale-sapping losses in their previous three Guinness PRO14 matches against Edinburgh, Glasgow and Munster.

Steve Tandy is a man under pressure

Steve Tandy’s side have at least picked up three bonus points from defeats to Clermont and Saracens in Pool 2 of this competition, but know they need a win in the East Midlands on Saturday to maintain any potential challenge for the knockout stages.

“We all feel a great degree of responsibility for where we are in terms of our performances and where we are in the (PRO14) table. We feel the pain for our supporters, who are frustrated,” added Davis. “It still is, and has been, a challenging period for us.

“Northampton are also on a poor run of form at the moment and I think you are going to have two desperate teams on Saturday.”

The Ospreys will also give a late fitness test to centre Ashley Beck, while front-rowers Sam Parry and Gareth Thomas are doubts after both limped off in the defeat to Munster in Cork last weekend.